Device for holding pleated material

ABSTRACT

A device for facilitating pressing of pleated garments. A Ushaped frame is attached to the work surface of a pressing buck or ironing board. The frame has narrow strips of friction material affixed thereto so that when a pleated garment is placed over the work surface the friction material engages the garment and keeps the pleats from falling out.

0 United States Patent 1 3,579,877

[72] lnventor Aaron C. Bray,.1r. 2,473,906 6/1949 Rich 38/66 EvansDrive, PO. Box 203, Houston, Miss. 3,338,291 8/ 1967 Kintner 223/28X38851 1,532,860 4/1925 Barksdale et al. 38/12 [21] Appl. No. 749,8012,257,146 9/1941 Zirker et a1. 38/36X [22] Filed Aug. 2, 1968 2,286,3486/1942 Custer 38/12 [45] Patented May 25, 1971 2,437,084 3/1948Esecson.. 38/12 3,101,560 8/1963 Little 38/12 54 DEVICE FOR HOLDINGPLEATED MATERIAL fl Frafiklm 8 Claims, 4 Drawing Figs AssistantExaminer-G. V. Larkm Attorney-D111er, Brown, Ramik & Holt [52]U.S.C1.... 38/12 [51] Int. Cl 1 D06f 71/40 [50] Field of Search 38/12,20,

36v 1 l 66; 223/28 34 ABSTRACT: A device for facilitating pressing ofpleated gar- 160/348 ments. A U-shaped frame is attached to the worksurface of a 5 6] References Cited pressing buck or ironing board. Theframe has narrow strips of friction material affixed thereto so thatwhen a pleated gar- UNITED STATES PATENTS ment is placed over the worksurface the friction material en- 1,624,829 4/ 1927 Dawn 38/108 gagesthe garment and keeps the pleats from falling out.

This device relates generally to a device for holding pleated materialduring a workoperation, and more particularly to a frame to be used inconnection with pressing apparatus for pressing pleated articles ofwearing apparel. The invention facilitates the pressing of said garmentsby holding the pleats in position during the pressing operation.

Pleated skirts have always been a problem for cleaners due to the timeand skill required. in pressing the pleats. The probleminvolved is dueto the fact that when the pleated skirt or other garment is placed onthe press buck or pad the pleats on either side of the buck or pad willalmost always fall or slide ofi due to the weight of the material. Theusual way this problem is solved is by placing straight pins in thebottom of some of the plates or sometimes in all of the pleats to holdthem in place and at times it takes a pin in several places on some ofthe pleats, especially the pleats on either side or edge of the press.This operation is time consuming as well as tiring and leaves pin holesand pin marks in some fabrics. Moreover, pins can damage the presscovers and pads as well as the press head when it is put down over thearticle to be steamed. Also, when the garment is steamed with pins inthe bottom and then pulled to straighten out the pleats, the end of theplates that are pinned will be caused to sag and not hang level.

Other methods of approach to this problem involve strapping the articleto the buck or pad, but this only holds the portion of the garment thatis strapped and the problem still remains as to the remainder of thelength of the pleats.

Pleats can be put in with a steam iron one or two at a time on asteamboard or ironing boardor a trowel or pleat setter can be used ifone has a steam finishing board, but this is still a time consuming job.There has been no easy way to do pleated skirts. It takes time, requiredskill and most cleaners feel that the charges for such work are notworth the time and effort involved.

Therefore, it is an object of this invention to provide a device forfacilitating the pressing of pleated garments by holding the pleats insaid garments in position to be pressed.

More particularly, it is an object of this invention to provide a devicethat can be attached to a press buck, ironing board pad or other type ofwork surface and which has friction means afiixed thereto so that whenpleated garments are placed over the work surface the pleats thereinwill be held in position and not fall out under the weight of thematerial hanging over the side of the surface.

The invention is not limited to use with a pressing apparatus, but couldbe used wherever it is necessary to hold pleats in pleated material inposition during a work operation so as to keep them from falling outunder the force of the weight of the material.

With these objects in view the nature of the invention will be moreclearly understood by reference to the following detailed description,the appended claims and the several views illustrated in theaccompanying drawings.

IN THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a pressing apparatus,par tially broken away, having a pleated garment held thereon by theholding device of this invention.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view showing the holding device of this invention.

FIG. 3 is a section view taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2 and showsthe holding device of the invention affixed to a press buck.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a portion of the holding device showingthe relationship between certain parts.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, FIG. 1 shows a pressingapparatus generally indicated at and having a buck or pad portion .14. Apleated skirt I2 is shown placed over the buck I4 and held in place overthe frame 16 of the holding device. Ordinarily, the pleats 13 would fallor slide out under the weight of the material hanging over the side ofthe buck.

However, the pleats are held in place due to the engagement of thematerial with the friction means 18 carried by the'frame 16.

FIG. 2 shows the frame 16 having a bight portion 20 and leg portions 22and 24. The friction means 18 (which can be any one of several things-astrip of polyfoam, sandpaper, emery cloth, a layer of latex, or anyother friction material which will act as a holding agent) are carriedby channel members 26 and 28 which are affixed to the leg portions ofthe frame. The friction means are readily replacable by being removableand reinsertable into the channel members. The frame has resilient means30 and strap means 32 for securing it to the press buck or pad. FIG. 3shows the holding device affixed to the buck. 14 with the straps 32running over the buck and the resilient means 30 running under the buck.

The holding device is placed on the buck of the press with the legportions of the frame running substantially parallel to the longitudinalaxis of the buck and just below where the screen on the head of thepress comes to when locked down. Then the garment is slipped on the buckin the same manner as it would be on any press, but the holding devicewill be underneath the garment. A short burst or two of steam is thenput through the buck pad and garment to soften the fabric and permit afaster, more accurate lay of the pleats. The first pleat or two,depending on its width, is then put in place on one side on top of theholding device. The friction means along the top of the holding devicewill hold the pleats in the exact position that they are placed on it,then the rest of the pleats are laid in position across the top of thepress to the other side; putting the last pleat on the other edge of theholding device. The device will hold all the pleats from one side to theother, no pleats will slip or fall off and no pins or straps are neededto hold them in place. All the pleats will lay flat and straight fromthe top to the bottom of the garment. The garment can then be steamedwithout concern for the pleats falling out. The result is a nice lay ofpleats with no pins-to remove, and no pin marks or stretched tips ofpleats, and no damage to the fabric or the press buck.

After the first lay of pleats is pressed, the garment is lifted slightlyand moved over in the usual manner and positioned for the next layputting the last pleat or two of the previous lay along one of thestrips of friction material. The portion of the garment lying betweenthe two strips of friction material is then pressed and this operationis repeated until the entire garment has been pressed.

As stated above, any type of friction material can be used but it hasbeen found that the garnet waterproof paper works best in 0/4 to 0/6size. The frame can be made of light weight tubing which is sturdy andeasy to handle. The strap meansmay be made of cloth and the resilientmeans may be metal spiral springs.

The frame may be covered with a cotton knit as a precautionary measureto absorb any moisture that could possibly accumulate on the metal inthe process of steaming the garment and drip and cause a damp spot onthe garment.

The channel members 26 and 28 may be formed from thin strips of sheetmetal and fastened with one-eighth pop rivets along each side on top ofthe leg portions of the frame to hold the friction material in place.

Although only a preferred embodiment of the invention has beenspecifically illustrated and described herein, it is to be understoodthat minor variations may be made in the holding device withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by theappended claims.

lclaim:

1. A device for holding pleated material during a work operation, saiddevice comprising a frame having friction means affixed thereto forunderlyingly engaging and for maintaining the pleats in said materialduring said operation, said frame being a U-shaped member having a bightportion and two leg portions, said bight portion adapted to encompassone end of a buck said friction means being on said two leg portions.

2. The device of claim 1 including means for affixing said frictionmeans to the leg portions of said U-shaped member.-

3. A device for holding pleated material during a work operation, saiddevice'comprising a frame having friction means affixed thereto forunderlyingly engaging and for maintaining the pleats in said materialduring said operation, channel member, said channel members beingaffixed to said frame, wherein said friction means are narrow strips ofrough material removably received within said channel members.

4. The device of claim 1, channel members, said channel members beingaffixed to and extending along substantially the entire length of eachleg portion, said friction means being narrow strips of frictionmaterial removably carried by said channel members, and a plurality ofspaced strap means and resilient means affixed to and extending betweenthe said leg portions.

5. The device of claim 4 wherein said frame is adapted to be held on apress buck'having a top portion and a bottom portion, wherein said strapmeans are adapted to pass over said top portion and said resilient meansare adapted to pass under said bottom portion for securing said frame tosaid buck.

6. A method for maintaining the pleats in a pleated material during awork operation, comprising the steps of providing a work surface havingtwo edge portions, locating friction material along said edge portions,placing the pleated material over said work surface and said frictionmaterial with the pleats running parallel to the friction material,gathering the pleated material so that the pleats lying between thefriction material lie flat, and engaging portions of said pleatedmaterial with said friction material to keep the pleats between thefriction material from falling out.

7. The method as defined in claim 6 wherein the friction

1. A device for holding pleated material during a work operation, saiddevice comprising a frame having friction means affixed thereto forunderlyingly engaging and for maintaining the pleats in said materialduring said operation, said frame being a U-shaped member having a bightportion and two leg portions, said bight portion adapted to encompassone end of a buck said friction means being on said two leg portions. 2.The device of claim 1 including means for affixing said friction meansto the leg portions of said U-shaped member.
 3. A device for holdingpleated material during a work operation, said device comprising a framehaving friction means affixed thereto for underlyingly engaging and formaintaining the pleats in said material during said operation, channelmember, said channel members being affixed to said frame, wherein saidfriction means are narrow strips of rough material removably receivedwithin said channel members.
 4. The device of claim 1, channel members,said channel members being affixed to and extending along substantiallythe entire length of each leg portion, said friction means being narrowstrips of friction material removably carried by said channel members,and a plurality of spaced strap means and resilient means affixed to andextending between the said leg portions.
 5. The device of claim 4wherein said frame is adapted to be held on a press buck having a topportion and a bottom portion, wherein said strap means are adapted topass over said top portion and said resilient means are adapted to passunder said bottom portion for securing said frame to said buck.
 6. Amethod for maintaining the pleats in a pleated material during a workoperation, comprising the steps of providing a work surface having twoedge portions, locating friction material along said edge portions,placing the pleated material over said work surface and said frictionmaterial with the pleats running parallel to the friction material,gathering the pleated material so that the pleats lying between thefriction material lie flat, and engaging portions of said pleatedmaterial with said friction material to keep the pleats between thefriction material from falling out.
 7. The method as defined in claim 6wherein the friction material is in the form of strips of frictionmaterial disposed along said edge portions.
 8. A device for holdingpleated material during a work operation, said device comprising toframe having friction means affixed thereto for underlyingly engagingand for maintaining the pleats in said material during said operation,said frame includes two spaced leg portions adapted to be positioned atopposite sides of a buck adjacent an end thereof, and said frictionmeans are fixed to the leg portions.